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Mass Central Rail Trail in Sudbury June 2025 1.jpg
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Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

White Pond–Duck Pond, 3 lakes

14.3 mi · ▲ 106 ft · 4 hr 49 min

White Pond–Duck Pond, 3 lakes is a 14.3-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Wayland, MA. The route passes Duck Pond before reaching White Pond at the turnaround, 7.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 106 ft of elevation gain. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi118 – 217 ft14.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside (proposed) 42.36319, -71.37051
Nearest town Wayland, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

White Pond–Duck Pond, 3 lakes

14.3 mi · ▲ 106 ft · 4 hr 49 min

Elevation 117–217 ft

Out & Back · Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside (proposed) · 42.36319, -71.37051

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside (proposed), heading W.
  2. 2.7 miContinue straight onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading NW.
  3. 150 ftTurn left onto Mass Central Rail Trail, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading NW.
  5. 2 miPass Duck Pond.
  6. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  7. 500 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  9. 300 ftBear left, heading N.
  10. 150 ftBear left onto Ridge Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Marsh to Desert Trail, heading NW.
  12. 200 ftTurn right onto Pitch Pine Trail, heading W.
  13. 350 ftBear left onto Fisher Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading NW.
  16. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  17. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  18. 350 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  19. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  20. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  21. 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  22. 0.1 miReach White Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 0.1 miSharp left, heading SE.
  24. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  25. 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  26. 300 ftSharp right, heading S.
  27. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  28. 0.7 miTurn left, heading SE.
  29. 50 ftTurn right onto Fisher Trail, heading SE.
  30. 0.7 miBear right onto Pitch Pine Trail, heading N.
  31. 350 ftTurn left onto Marsh to Desert Trail, heading N.
  32. 250 ftContinue straight onto Ridge Trail, heading E.
  33. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  34. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  35. 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  36. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  37. 500 ftTurn left onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading E.
  38. 2 miTurn left onto Mass Central Rail Trail, heading SE.
  39. 50 ftTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading SE.
  40. 2.7 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/white-pond-duck-pond-out-back-4-lakes-23-km

Trail surface

57% paved13% dirt30% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:42 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~48 min). Leave by 6:55 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Wayland, Massachusetts